Method and apparatus for anastomosis including an anchoring sleeve

Abstract

Apparatus for performing a surgical anastomosis include a tubular body ( 102 ) having an onion portion ( 114 ) formed near the distal end of the tubular body. The apparatus includes a sleeve ( 104 ) having a radius sized and dimensioned to slidably receive the tubular body therein. The apparatus includes a plunger assembly sized and dimensioned to be slidably received within the central lumen of the tubular body. The plunger assembly includes a distal end configured and adapted to deploy the onion portion.

1. An apparatus for joining a first body vessel and a second body vessel, comprising:
 a) a tubular body having a proximal end and a distal end, the tubular body supporting an onion portion comprising a plurality of ribs defining a plurality of longitudinally oriented slots, the onion portion supported near the distal end of the tubular body for engaging the first body vessel, the onion portion having a first configuration wherein the ribs are within a radial dimension of the tubular body and a second configuration wherein the ribs are outside the radial dimension of the tubular body; 
 b) a sleeve having an expandable cuff for engaging the second body vessel, the sleeve having a lumen for receiving the tubular body; and 
 c) a plunger assembly for being received in the tubular body, the plunger assembly having a distal end arranged for deploying the onion portion from the first position to the second position. 
 
   
   
     2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of the ribs has at least one flexure line defined therein. 
   
   
     3. The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein each of the ribs has a proximal flexure line, a distal flexure line, and an intermediate flexure line defined therein. 
   
   
     4. The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the intermediate flexure line comprises a double articulating joint. 
   
   
     5. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the onion portion has at least one expanded portion disposed outside the radial dimension of the tubular body when the onion portion is in the second configuration for engaging the first body vessel. 
   
   
     6. The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the onion portion has a pair of expanded portions disposed outside the radial dimension of the tubular body when the onion portion is in the second configuration for engaging the first body vessel between the pair of expanded portions. 
   
   
     7. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the distal end of the plunger assembly has an engaging element adapted to selectively couple with an engaging element provided at the distal end of the tubular body. 
   
   
     8. An apparatus for joining a first body vessel and a second body vessel, comprising:
 a) a tubular body having a proximal end and a distal end, the tubular body supporting an onion portion formed near the distal end of the tubular body for engaging the first body vessel, the onion portion having a first configuration within a radial dimension of the tubular body and a second configuration outside the radial dimension of the tubular body, and wherein the onion portion supports a plurality of barbs for engaging the first body vessel, the barbs being arranged to face in a proximal direction when the onion portion is in the second configuration; 
 b) a sleeve having an expandable cuff for engaging the second body vessel, the sleeve having a lumen for receiving the tubular body; and 
 c) a plunger assembly for being received in the tubular body, the plunger assembly having a distal end arranged for deploying the onion portion from the first configuration to the second configuration. 
 
   
   
     9. An apparatus for joining a first body vessel and a second body vessel, comprising:
 a) a tubular body having a proximal end and a distal end, the tubular body supporting an onion portion formed near the distal end of the tubular body for engaging the first body vessel, the onion portion having a first configuration within a radial dimension of the tubular body and a second configuration outside the radial dimension of the tubular body, and wherein the onion portion has a pair of expanded portions disposed outside the radial dimension of the tubular body when the onion portion is in the second configuration for engaging the first body vessel between the pair of expanded portions, and wherein the onion portion comprises a plurality of ribs, each of the ribs having a proximal flexure line, a distal flexure line, a pair of central flexure lines, a first intermediate flexure line between the central flexure lines and the distal flexure line, and a second intermediate flexure line between the central flexure lines and the proximal flexure line; 
 b) a sleeve having an expandable cuff for engaging the second body vessel, the sleeve having a lumen for receiving the tubular body; and 
 c) a plunger assembly for being received in the tubular body, the plunger assembly having a distal end arranged for deploying the onion portion from the first configuration to the second configuration. 
 
   
   
     10. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the first and second intermediate flexure line comprise double articulating joints. 
   
   
     11. The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the onion portion defines a radius about the first and second intermediate flexure lines that is less than the radial dimension of the tubular body.